16. Devil

Fany

Adrian's eyes widened as if he saw Kong Kong climbing the tallest tower in LA. His voice rose and fell in disbelief. I wish this car could move faster to my house.

"Meeting your mother?" Adrian chuckled. "You're kidding, right?"

I hope so, but no. This is real. I don't want to argue about that Old Demon, no. I don't want to burden Adrian with something like this. Let him focus on his 'effort' to change.

However, Adrian is not the name if he acts well when driving this junk car. He's chirping. I can't help but hear everything.

"I thought he was dead. He's never visited you, has he? Then why did you visit him? He's a demon, right? You said yourself, in his eyes you just--"

"Adrian, shut up," I replied. "Focus on driving or should I take a taxi to get there?"

He drives the car in annoyance. Adrian puts on my favorite country music. Although it can't get rid of anxiety, it's quite calming.

"Listen Fan, I don't want you to be sad."

"Thank you, but it's my duty as a child to meet parents if called upon."

I know Adrian is worried about me, but the teachings of Religion must be fully obeyed. After a tedious drive, we arrived at Beverly Hills.

The iron grate door opens automatically. Adrian's car slowly entered. Several men in black shirts looked at us at the guard post. Three black ranger cars lined the garage door of the old house with the original river stone walls.

The car stopped not far from the door of the house. Adrian opened the door for me. "Do you want me to accompany you?"

I shook my head as I brushed my hair. I don't want him to cause unnecessary trouble inside later. "Wait here, don't smoke," I ordered, then went into the house.

I stepped on the marble floor about to climb the stairs, until a skinny man in a black shirt greeted me, leading me to the second floor where Dad's study was.

The skinny man turned to face me holding the doorknob. "Madam awaits Miss inside. Please." He opened the big door.

The smell of old wood wafted through the room full of bookshelves.

Mother was standing by the curtains, observing something outside holding a teacup. He must have seen Adrian. Lord, give me the patience to face all this.

Mother's voice was so low, but sharp and heart-rending.

"Look at that ranch car. There should be a rule against that car in town. Your driver is handsome, attractive enough, but unfortunately sloppy, tattooed. What's with that rustic look? alone."

That was the way he greeted his daughter after a long absence, with orders and ridicule. "He's not a driver. I know him, he's Nicole Bened's second son."

"Widow of three children?" Mother put the teacup on the wooden workbench. A white blouse and a work skirt above the knee make her look elegant. He smiled friendly and squeezed my arms. "Finally you came too, son."

"What is it?" I asked.

"Don't be rude. Sit down."

We sat on the sofa by the fire, not far from the magnificent chandelier above the center of the room.

"Listen," she said. "Soon you will graduate. I want you to think about the future."

"I always think about the future. I want to be a career woman --"

She chuckles. "That's not important. You have to follow Mom's orders, understand? Let Mom choose the best future path for you."

Patience Fan, patience. I have to be patient, she's my mother. "You don't even want to hear me, so why should I listen to you?"

I am standing. "Where's Daddy?"

"Sit down, your dad's still in New York."

"Then I will go home. Goodbye." I almost opened the door until she said something.

"It must be because of the poor brat outside, your attitude has become sloppy."

"Don't insult Adrian."

"Why? His family is really poor. Even his brother has to lick your Father feet to go to school--"

"Stop ma'am. At least they're good people. They understand me much better than you."

She chuckled, took a sip of her drink, then spoke casually. "I want you to stay away from that family, especially that boy. I don't like the way he looks, he must be unemployed."

"He--" Yes Adrian is unemployed. "He's a good boy. Please don't tell me to come here just for something like this."

"I want to see if you're pregnant or not. That's all."

I can't leave the room after hear that. "What?"

She nodded casually, curling his lower lip. "Take care of yourself until you meet your future husband."

I chuckled, holding my forehead. "So you think I'm a cow?"

"You are my daughter, successor of the Reine family. I will contact you again."

I went out slamming the door away with a thousand steps. Damn that old devil.